Crossbar slider switch with improved shrouding structure for actuator means

ABSTRACT

A crossbar slider switch having a front panel provided with an elongated slot through which the actuator of the slider switch housing projects and which has movably connected thereto a closure member for continuously enshrouding the elongated slot to protect the components of the switch against contamination.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1962 Stenhammer et al.........

[72] Inventors WalterLCherry;

Raymond G. Castle, Highland Park, 111. 801,327

200/ 1 6UX 200/ 16X 200/ 16 200/ l 6 200/ l 6 200/ 16X 3,027,506 3,146,320 8/1964 Wang et 3,205,319 9/1965 And 3/ 1967 Field 111, et aL. 8/1967 Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner-J R. Scott [21 Appl. No.

[22] Filed Feb. 24, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 12,1971

[73] Assignee Cher '7 Electrical Products Corporation Highland Park, III. a corporation of lllinois 541 CROSSBAR SLIDER SWITCH WITH LMPROVED SHROUDING STRUCTURE FOR ACTUATOR Tweedy MEANS 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

ABSTRACT: A crossbar slider switch having a front panel provided with an elon h the actuator of ojects and which has movably congated slot through whic sing pr the slider switch hou [51] Int. H0lh 3/00 nected thereto a closure member for continuously enshroud- [50] Field 200/16, ing the elongated slot to protect the components of the switch 1680, 17 against contamination.

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CROSSBAR SLIDER SWITCH WITH IMPROVED SHROUDING STRUCTURE FOR ACTUATOR MEANS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A self-adjusting closure member for a crossbar slider switch of the type shown, described and claimed in US. Pat. No. 3,205,319. The slider switch provides a contactor contained in a housing positioned upon and movable over a current conducting rail with the contactor in selected contact with current conductors carried by a printed circuit board. An actuator for the slider switch housing projects out of and is movable through an elongated slot formed in the escutcheon plate of the switch. The closure member comprises a slider cover and slot plate that continuously emhrouds the slot by longitudinal self-adjustment relative to each other and to the elongated slot, as the slider housing is moved therethrough.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The preferred embodiment of the invention will best be understood from reference to the accompanying drawing which shows the environment and construction of parts by which the objects of the invention are achieved and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a crossbar slider switch including the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational detailed sectional view of the switch module of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the switch of FIG. 1 with a portion of one element thereof broken away; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the I self-adjusting closure member embodied in this invention.

The crossbar slider switch of the present invention, like the switch of the heretofore mentioned US. Pat. No. 3,205,319, comprises a dielectric circuit board 11 having printed on one face thereof circuit conductors (not shown) that extend between the edges 12 and 13 of the board 11 and terminate into end terminal connectors 14.

Carried by the circuit board 11 are a plurality of rails 15 (see FIG. 2) extending transversely above the printed circuit conductors carried on the corresponding one face of the board 11. The rails 15 include end terminal posts 16 and/or end connectors 17 as desired. These terminal posts 16 and/or end connectors 17 after being projected through slots formed in the board '11 are twisted about their longitudinal axes and thus connect the associated rail 15 to the board I 1.

As shown in FIG. 2 each of the rails 15 provides spaced parallelly extending bars 18 and 19. The underside of the bar 18 which confronts the bar 19 is provided with a series of Iongitudinally aligned detents 20 with each of the detents 20 being vertically aligned with respect to one of the circuit conductor paths printed on the one face of the board 11. The bar 19 is adapted to transversely extend above and in spaced relation to the circuit conductor paths, and functions as a mechanical stiffener for the entire assembly and as a guide for the switch contact carried by and movable with the slider switch housing 21, all in the manner shown and described in the aforementioned patent.

The slider switch housing 21 is mounted on the rail 15 and movable thereover through the manual manipulation of an elongated finger actuator 22 provided by the slider housing 21, which finger 22 is adapted to project out of a slot 23 formed in an escutcheon plate 24 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The escutcheon plate 24 is adapted to be connected in spaced relation to the board I l by a plurality of spacers 25 such as are shown in the drawings.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 the finger actuator 22 provides an enlarged base 26 that fits into and is projected through an opening 27, of approximately the same size, formed in a slider cover 28 (see FIG. 4). By this arrangement the slider plate 28 is efiectively connected to and movable with the slider housing 21.

The finger actuator 22 after its base 26 has been projected into the opening 27 formed in the slider cover 28 is freely projected through an elongated slot 29 formed in a slot plate 30. As illustrated in the drawings the slot plate 30 is half again longer in length than the slider cover 28, with its slot 29 being of a length equal to one-third of its entire length, and one-half as long as the slot 23 formed in the escutcheon plate 24.

The slider housing 21 together with the slider cover 28 and slot plate 30 are positioned between the underside of the escutcheon plate 24 and the slider housing 21 with their respective opening 27 and slot 29 in alignment with the slot 23 formed in the escutcheon plate 24.

By this arrangement when the finger actuator 22 is caused to move longitudinally through the slot 23 it will cause the slide cover 28 to move simultaneously therewith beneath the slot cover 30. This movement will continue through approximately one-half of the length of the slot 23 before the fingeractuator 22 has been moved through the entire length of the slot 29 formed in the slot plate 30, at which time it, too, will be moved with the slider housing 22 through the remaining portion of the slot 23. Thus at all times the slot 23, formed in the escutcheon plate 24, is closed by the closure member, which includes the slider cover 28 and slot plate 30, during the movement of the slider switch housing 21 over the rail 15. The closure member in effecting the sealing of the slot 23 prevents contamination of the switch by prohibiting dirt, dust and other foreign matter to penetrate beyond the escutcheon plate 24.

To correctly position the slot plate 30 so that its slot 29 is at all times in registration with slot 23 formed'in the escutcheon plate 24, and to arrest its movement relative thereto while permitting continuing movement of the slider cover 29 and slider housing 21 over the rail 15 and beneath the plate 24, stops 31 are carried by the underside of the escutcheon plate 24 at the opposite ends of the slot 23 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Thus as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 the slider cover 28 through its connection with the base portion 26 of the lever 22 has been moved in a downward direction through slightly more than one-half the length of slot 23 formed in the escutcheon plate 24. Corresponding movement of the base portion 26 of the lever 22 has also been made through the entire length of the slot 29 formed in the slot plate 30, and it together with the slider cover 28' has commenced moving beneath the remaining portion of slot 23. This joint movement of all of the parts will continue until the edge 32 of the slot plate 30 contacts the bottom stop 31 and then at such time the base portion 26 of the lever 22 will be at the bottom end of the slot 23 formed in the escutcheon plate 24. In such position the slider cover 28 will have its upper portion lying-beneath and closing the slot 29 formed in the slot plate 30 while the upper portion of the slot plate 30 will lie beneath and close the upper portion of the slot 23 formed in the escutcheon plate. Thus the slot 23 is at all times sealed regardless of the position or direction of movement of the actuating lever 22 through its respective slot 23.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do notwish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A crossbar slider switch assembly wherein the switch actuator is adapted to extend out of and be movedthrough an elongated slot formed in an escutcheon plate, including means for continuously enshrouding the slot during movement of the switch actuator therethrough, wherein said means comprises:

a. an elongated slot plate movably carried behind the escutcheon plate;

b. said slot plate having a length and width greater thanthe elongated slot and having a second slot formed therein through which the switch actuator projects;

c. said second slot being of a length less than that of the elongated slot so as to close a portion of the elongated slot as said slot plate is moved by the actuator behind the escutcheon plate;

d. an elongated cover connected to the switch actuator and extending through a plane transversely thereto and behind said slot plate;

c. said cover being of a length and width sufficient to close said second slot s the actuator is moved therethrough; and i f. means for limiting the movement of said slot plate by the actuator while permitting continuous movement of said cover beneath said slot plate and the actuator through said second slot and the elongated slot formed in the eacutcheon plate.

2. A crossbar slider switch assembly as defined by claim 1 wherein said cover comprises a substantially flat member fixedly attached to the actuator and movable therewith and having an equal longitudinal length extending to either side of its attachment to the actuator so as to close said second slot formed in said slot plate when the actuator is moved in either direction through the entire length of said second slot.

3. A crossbar slider switch assembly as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for limiting the movement of said slot plate comprises stops carried by the underside of the escutcheon plate transversely to said elongated slot plate and in the path of movement thereof as the same is moved by the actuator. 

1. A crossbar slider switch assembly wherein the switch actuator is adapted to extend out of and be moved through an elongated slot formed in an escutcheon plate, including means for continuously enshrouding the slot during movement of the switch actuator therethrough, wherein said means comprises: a. an elongated slot plate movably carried behind the escutcheon plate; b. said slot plate having a length and width greater than the elongated slot and having a second slot formed therein through which the switch actuator projects; c. said second slot being of a length less than that of the elongated slot so as to close a portion of the elongated slot as said slot plate is moved by the actuator behind the escutcheon plate; d. an elongated cover connected to the switch actuator and extending through a plane transversely thereto and behind said slot plate; e. said cover being of a length and width sufficient to close said second slot as the actuator is moved therethrough; and f. means for limiting the movement of said slot plate by the actuator while permitting continuous movement of said cover beneath said slot plate and the actuator through said second slot and the elongated slot formed in the escutcheon plate.
 2. A crossbar slider switch assembly as defined by claim 1 wherein said cover comprises a substantially flat member fixedly attached to the actuator and movable therewith and having an equal longitudinal length extending to either side of its attachment to the actuator so as to close said second slot formed in said slot plate when the actuator is moved in either direction through the entire length of said second slot.
 3. A crossbar slider switch assembly as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for limiting the movement of said slot plate comprises stops carried by the underside of the escutcheon plate transversely to said elongated slot plate and in the path of movement thereof as the same is moved by the actuator. 